Semi-rigid swim training apparatus for core stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The banning of performance-enhancing bodysuits in swimming has led to a regression in performance, and existing techniques for targeting core strength, such as ball and weight exercises, do not effectively maintain posture during swimming.
Innovation Solution
A swim training apparatus with a semi-rigid body and attachment mechanism that provides resistance and posture training by contacting the user's torso, guiding posture and enhancing core strength and stability through adjustable rigidity and positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bodysuits with plastic coatings and compression features are used, then swimmer performance is enhanced through drag reduction and core stabilisation, but the devices are banned due to performance-enhancing effects
Solution Approach 1:
The training apparatus uses a simple, non-compressive body shell made from inexpensive materials that provides temporary training assistance during exercise sessions, then is removed. This avoids the permanent performance enhancement and body modification effects of compression bodysuits while still delivering training benefits during the activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential training function (providing a reference surface for posture guidance and resistance) from the banned bodysuit design, eliminating the compression, plastic coating, and stabilisation features that caused the ban, while retaining the core training value.
2Stability of the object's composition
If compression bodysuits are used to stabilise core muscles, then posture is maintained and drag is reduced, but muscle oscillation prevention and centre of gravity alteration create dependency on the suit
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus provides partial stabilisation only when needed during training sessions, rather than continuous compression. The body shell offers limited resistance and posture guidance sufficient for training purposes, allowing muscles to work harder than normal but without the excessive support that creates dependency.
Solution Approach 2:
The training apparatus transitions from static compression to dynamic resistance - the body shell moves with the swimmer's motions and provides resistance proportional to the movement, adapting to the user's actions rather than imposing fixed compression forces.
3Strength
If traditional core exercises like ball and weight exercises are used, then core strength is targeted, but these exercises do not effectively maintain posture during swimming
Solution Approach 1:
The body shell acts as an intermediary between the swimmer and the water environment, providing a physical reference surface that mediates the interaction between core muscles and swimming posture requirements, making the training directly transferable to swimming movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a spatial dimension to core training by providing a three-dimensional reference surface that extends into the water environment, rather than relying solely on two-dimensional mat exercises. This creates a training dimension that directly mirrors the swimming posture requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A swim training apparatus for training a user during swimming, the apparatus including, an at least semi-rigid body, an attachment mechanism to allow the body to be worn by the user so that at least part of the body contacts the user's torso to thereby provide at least one of resistance training for improving at least one of strength and stability of the user, and posture training for guiding user posture.